Netherlands teammates together again with Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA | From the under-19 Dutch national team to the University of Alabama soccer team, Pia Rijsdijk and Merel van Dongen say they love being teammates.

By Caroline CollinsSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

TUSCALOOSA | From the under-19 Dutch national team to the University of Alabama soccer team, Pia Rijsdijk and Merel van Dongen say they love being teammates. Rijsdijk, a sophomore starting forward, said that UA coach Todd Bramble attended the European Championships in Italy and watched her play for the U19 team. She said he could not easily get her email or contact info because of the international technology differences, so he messaged her on Facebook saying he was interested in recruiting her. “I knew about college soccer in the United States, but I didn't know about the universities,” Rijsdijk said. “Alabama offered me a full scholarship to come, and this was such a big opportunity.”Van Dongen, a freshman starting midfielder, said her recruiting experience was a little different. “Coach Bramble sent me a Facebook message at the same time as Pia, but I decided not to do it,” van Dongen said. “I kept in touch with Pia and Coach Bramble, and he asked again in January. Pia helped make the decision easy, because she told me what to plan for and how everything worked.”The girls said they saw each other every day when they played in the Netherlands. They have been teammates on national, club and development teams. Van Dongen said she missed seeing Pia when she came to UA, and it was exciting to play again together and reunite. Rijsdijk and van Dongen said their parents were very positive about the opportunity. Rijsdijk's mother was very excited, but her dad was neutral about such a big move.“I think my dad was just scared he wouldn't see me as much, but he eventually told me to go for it,” Pia said. “I hesitated more than my parents did,” said van Dongen.Rijsdijk and van Dongen said their parents have yet to visit them or see them play at Alabama. “My mom and sister are coming in three weeks,” Rijsdijk said with a huge smile on her face. “My mom hasn't flown in 27 years, and my sister has never flown.” The girls said they only get to go home for Christmas and summer vacation. They said they don't have time to be homesick, because they are always busy with school and soccer.“There are little moments when I want to just run give my mom a hug,” Rijsdijk said. “I don't get homesick, though, because I have a team that takes care of me. We are family.” “I miss my home in a good way,” said van Dongen. “I never get that deep sad feeling that I want to go home.” Rijsdijk and van Dongen both said they love that soccer and school go together here. In the Netherlands, they said, you either go to school or play soccer at the club or national level. “There is lots of support and help here at Alabama,” Rijsdijk said. “The school is very willing to help us get our work done around soccer.” Rijsdijk said she loves to play with different players that have such different qualities than Europeans. “This was all a new way of playing,” Rijsdijk said. “American soccer is much more rough and direct. You can tell the fitness is better here. European soccer is faster and technically better.” Van Dongen has scored four goals with the Dutch U19 national team. She has played 53 games for her country and led her U15 region team to two national championships. At the 2010 European Championships in Macedonia and the 2011 European Championships in Italy, Van Dongen helped lead her team to a semifinal and top-8 finish. Rijsdijk received SEC All-Freshmen Team honors last season, and was once named SEC Freshman of the Week. She started all 22 games last year and scored 14 points on five goals and four assists. Rijsdijk holds the school record with 78 shots and a record 34 coming on goal.The Dutch connection is working out well for UA. “We are ecstatic to have both of them,” Bramble said. “Fans get to see what they bring to the game. I wouldn't want them if it were just for their soccer talents; they are wonderful young ladies.”

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